NEWTOWN (ITALIAN) SENIOR CENTER SHADOW PUPPET STORYTELLING WORKSHOP Friday May 19, 2023

 NEWTOWN (ITALIAN) SENIOR CENTER

SHADOW PUPPET STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

Friday May 19, 2023


It was wonderful to be working with Spica again, in person, at a center for older adults. The Newtown Senior Center, in Elmhurst, is buzzing with activity and our class immediately follows a very popular zumba class. Each week Spica greets new participants, and this week was no exception with 2 new students, Beatriz, and Carolina. 

 

All the students made title cards using black cardstock and acetate. Fabiola’s title is Fabiola’s History, Rona’s is First Communion, Nidia posed a question, Why am I in USA?, and Paul’s long title clearly expressed his story, 911 Tai Chi Health. Chui Fong created a title card in the shape of a bitter melon, Growing Vegetables, Hilda beautifully decorated her heart shaped title card with floral designs, Memories in both English and Chinese, and Rita’s title card in Chinese encapsulates her story about the charity of the craftsman of the lumber yard who gave out food to the community on his birthday. Beatriz enjoys growing things in her yard so created a title card, Growing Plants as she felt it was more generic than growing flowers. Beatriz spoke of her blessings at reaching her 80s in good health and contentment so made a title card, Blessed Senior Years. 

 

Fabiola developed the story she is telling of her childhood in Colombia, by creating a puppet of her sister who she told me was like a second mother and helped bring her up. She especially remembers her sister feeding her guavas. Rona created a little girl puppet who is taking her first communion. Both Beatriz and Carolina created their storyboard and from that Beatriz drew and cut out a watering can. Carolina will make praying hands next week. Rita used her new found skill to make the sign of the lumber yard. Chui Fong made a large pot and put a slit in the top, through which she can push up a plant to create the effect it is growing. Paul used textured paper to create a fantastic effect of the smoke and dust which rose after the collapse of the twin towers.

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